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<!-- Generated by Recursive Catalog Creation -->
<!-- Date: 2025-10-28T14:42:56.396340 -->

# Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records  
## Handwritten Medical Theses (1850‑1867)

---

## Overview  

The collection comprises two handwritten, bound theses submitted to the **Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania** in Philadelphia as part of the requirements for the Doctor of Medicine degree. The first, *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps* (1850), is a concise historical survey of obstetric instruments. The second, *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition* (1867), presents a philosophical treatise on childbirth and the nature of medical knowledge. Both works illustrate the academic practices of the college—hand‑written manuscripts on uniform thesis paper with alternate blank pages—and provide insight into 19th‑century homeopathic medical education, obstetric practice, and the intellectual climate surrounding parturition.

---

## Collection Context  

| Item | Author | Date of Submission | Institution | Degree | Format | Pages | Digital Availability |
|------|--------|--------------------|-------------|--------|--------|-------|-----------------------|
| 1 | Richard Gardiner | 1 Feb 1850 | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania | Doctor of Medicine | Handwritten bound thesis | 18 | IIIF manifest (link) |
| 2 | Charles B. Barrett (Chas B. Barnett) | 4 Feb 1867 | Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania | Doctor of Medicine | Handwritten bound thesis | 41 (alternating blank pages) | IIIF manifest (link) |

Both items are housed in the **Hahnemann University Academic Affairs Records** within Drexel University Library’s digital collection. The manuscripts were originally produced on uniform‑size thesis paper; binding is typical of mid‑19th‑century academic theses (cloth or cardboard covers). The IIIF manifests provide high‑resolution images of every page, allowing zoom, download, and full‑text OCR where possible.

---

## Item 1 – *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps* (1850)

- **Author**: Richard Gardiner  
- **Subject**: History of obstetrical forceps, obstetrics, homeopathic medicine  
- **Content**: A brief historical survey tracing the use of forceps from antiquity through the Hippocratic and Galenic eras to contemporary practice.  
- **Physical**: 18 handwritten pages; alternate pages left blank for marginalia.  
- **Significance**: Offers a primary source for the evolution of obstetric instruments and the role of historical knowledge in 19th‑century medical training.  

---

## Item 2 – *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition* (1867)

- **Author**: Charles B. Barrett (also cited as Chas B. Barnett)  
- **Subject**: Philosophy of parturition, nature, beauty, and the value of true art versus imitation  
- **Content**: Begins with a philosophical treatise titled *Philosophy of Partition* (likely a typographical error for “Parturition”), discussing forethought, education, and the wisdom embodied in nature.  
- **Physical**: 41 handwritten pages; alternate pages blank.  
- **Significance**: Provides insight into 19th‑century homeopathic medical education, the intersection of philosophy and obstetrics, and the intellectual milieu of the Victorian era.  

---

## Provenance & Institutional History  

- **Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania** (founded 1848) merged with **Hahnemann Medical College** (founded 1867) in 1869 to form the **Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia**.  
- The manuscripts were deposited in the college’s academic affairs records, now part of Drexel University Library’s archival holdings.  
- Cataloging was performed in Alma; metadata is available via the IIIF manifests.

---

## Research Value  

| Research Area | How the Materials Contribute |
|---------------|------------------------------|
| Medical History | Illustrates homeopathic curriculum, thesis requirements, and the emphasis on handwritten manuscripts. |
| Obstetrics | Provides historical perspective on obstetrical forceps and philosophical reflections on childbirth. |
| Philosophy & Medicine | Offers a Victorian-era discourse linking nature, beauty, and medical practice. |
| Archival Studies | Demonstrates manuscript practices, binding styles, and the use of blank pages for notes. |

---

## Access & Use  

- **Digital**: All pages are viewable through the IIIF manifests linked above. Images can be zoomed, downloaded, and used for scholarly research.  
- **Physical**: Researchers may request consultation or physical access via Drexel University Library’s Special Collections department.  
- **Citation**: Use the following format for scholarly references:

  ```
  Gardiner, Richard. *An Essay on the Use of the Obstetrical Forceps*. Philadelphia: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1850. 18 pages. Handwritten thesis. Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records. Digital copy available via IIIF.

  Barrett, Charles B. (Chas B. Barnett). *An Inaugural Dissertation on Philosophy of Parturition*. Philadelphia: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, 1867. 41 pages. Handwritten thesis. Hahnemann University Academic Affairs records. Digital copy available via IIIF.
  ```

---

## Key Facts  

- **Institutions**: Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania; Hahnemann University (merged).  
- **Locations**: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  
- **Dates**: 1 Feb 1850 (Gardiner); 4 Feb 1867 (Barrett).  
- **Formats**: Handwritten bound theses, 18–41 pages, alternate blank pages.  
- **Subjects**: Obstetrical forceps, philosophy of parturition, homeopathic medicine, Victorian medical education.  
- **Digital Access**: IIIF manifests (links provided).  

These materials offer a valuable window into the pedagogical and intellectual practices of 19th‑century homeopathic medicine and remain a useful resource for scholars of medical history, obstetrics, philosophy, and archival studies.

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